This was the first year Wilson taught as a Springmore Elementary teacher assistant, and now her job is being threatened by state budget cuts proposed by Gov. Pat McCrory.

Teacher assistant cuts are among several topics being discussed at the state level that could affect the 2013-14 school budget in Cleveland County and in school districts statewide. McCrory has proposed cuts to funding for teacher assistants in elementary grades, excluding kindergarten and first grade.

It’s not the first time teacher assistants have sweated out a budget season in North Carolina. They’ve been on the chopping block several times in recent years as state leaders have looked for ways to slice spending plans.

Several local teacher assistants spoke against cuts at this week’s Cleveland County Schools Board of Education meeting.

“We are more than just paper pushers and copy makers,” Wilson said. “We are here for the children; they need us.”

Wilson said she has health problems and needs the job insurance benefits to buy expensive medicine to help her breathe. But that isn’t her only concern.

Teacher assistants help with breakfast in the morning, serve as bus drivers and cover for teachers during their two-hour planning periods, said Carolyn Barringer, a Washington Elementary teacher assistant.

“Our teacher assistants do an outstanding job in supporting the teaching process, especially in the younger classrooms,” Cleveland County Schools Superintendent Dr. Bruce Boyles told The Star in March. “Children have instructional and physical needs.”

Cleveland County school leaders won’t know exactly how the system’s budget will be affected until final decisions on funding are made at the state level.

But cuts of any teachers or assistants would directly affect students in the classroom, Boyles said.

“We are needed in our classroom, and our students need us,” Barringer said. “We are fighting for our jobs. We may be wounded, but we aren’t defeated.”

How many teachers, assistants?

2013 numbers for Cleveland County Schools:

Teachers

Teachers — 1,141

Elementary classroom teachers — 598

Teacher assistants

Teacher assistant employees — 430

Teacher assistant positions — 331.5 (NOTE: This number represents the number of full-time paid positions occupied by teacher assistants. Some teachers don’t work full-time hours as teacher assistants. However, many of those employees serve as bus drivers and in other positions, and they earn separate pay for those duties.)

Total teacher assistant salary budget for those 331.5 positions — $7 million

Total teacher assistant benefits budget for those 331.5 positions — $3.5 million